Find Out What Tree Fits Your Yard Best at Upcoming Event

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The following information was provided by Trees for Watertown:

THE RIGHT TREE FOR ME:  Trees for Watertown to Offer Free Seminar

Experts Show How to Choose the Perfect Tree for Your Yard

On Saturday, March 11th from 9:30 to 11:30 AM at the Watertown Public Library, Trees for Watertown will present a free seminar titled “The Right Tree for Me”. It will be available both in person and via Zoom.

According to TFW President Libby Shaw, the idea for the seminar began with the knowledge that 80 percent of Watertown’s trees are on private land. 

“Our goal is to improve the quality of life for city residents by increasing our city’s population of shade trees and these trees’ longevity,” Shaw said. “It’s trees with big, healthy canopies that provide the strongest infrastructural and ecological services. Watertown is doing great work with street trees, but street trees provide at most about 20 percemt of our city’s protective tree canopy. To succeed we need to help homeowners find ways to add and maintain healthy, long-lived trees in their yards.”

In planning the seminar, the Trees for Watertown team explored what kinds of information homeowners seek when they’re thinking about planting a tree. TFW members found that for some, affordability is a primary concern.  Others want tips on how best to plant a tree and maintain its health. 

One common question Watertown residents have is whether their yard is big enough to support a tree. Some just aren’t sure how to fit a tree into their landscaping. Many would like help deciding what kind of tree to buy.

Based on these findings, Trees for Watertown crafted a seminar to address these concerns. Four invited experts will give short presentations, each followed by a brief question and answer period.

Greg Mosman, Certified Arborist with Barrett Tree Service East, will explore the affordability of different types of trees. Benjamin Anderson, Certified Arborist with Harrison McPhee, will show how to adjust for small spaces and close neighbors when selecting a tree. Jen Kettle, ISA Certified Master Arborist and owner of Radiant Leaf Consulting, will deliver insights on how to get your tree through its vital early years, and Anthony Fox, Senior Associate with Reed Hilderbrand, a leading landscape architecture firm, will show how the right tree can be a centerpiece of a well-designed yard.

Following these individual presentations, the four speakers will join Shaw for a round table discussion. They will address real world scenarios for Watertown yards, considering such factors as light, soil conditions, budget, owner expectations, and maintenance workload. Each expert will offer their recommendations for an ideal tree to meet the challenge presented. Attendees will then have an opportunity to ask more questions relevant to their particular yard and needs. 

“We designed this seminar to help homeowners who are thinking about planting a new tree,” said Shaw, “but it will also help anyone who wants to know more about how to care for an existing tree and make it a beautiful focal point in their yard. We think this will be a great opportunity for everyone!”

For more information on The Right Tree for Me program and to register for the seminar, simply visit treesforwatertown.org.

3 thoughts on “Find Out What Tree Fits Your Yard Best at Upcoming Event

  1. This is a step in the right direction, big advantage to this. I was wondering would TFW be making house calls, so to speak, to map out an area at a later time for the right tree for the homeowners property just a little more effort , so there would be no unhappiness. I hope it turns out well!

  2. I agree with you, Dennis. And a big thank you to Trees for Watertown to hosting this much needed event for Watertown residents! What’s that old saying? The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, and the second best time is now. Trees for Watertown is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that is supported by many Watertown residents and powered by a dedicated group of members. The picking out of an area of someone’s yard for a new tree can easily be done via the views on Google maps and other satellite views, thus obviating the need to physically visit a site. That said, it can be daunting to pick out the right species / size tree. We know that trees help us, the environment, and the value of homes. Watertown is sadly lacking in canopy. I hope folks will consider native trees to help native / migratory birds.

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